Production of sod using a soil-less sand based root zone medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a soil-less sand based root zone medium for the production of sod. The present invention is also directed to a method for the production of sod using a soil-less sand based root zone medium and a sod mat produced by the method of the present invention.

I claim:  
     
       1. A transportable turf manufactured to be planted at a transplant site having a sand soil with a predetermined grain size and distribution profile comprising: 
       a root-impermeable barrier and  
       a soil-less sand based root zone medium useful in the production of turf grasses in sod form, the soil-less sand based root zone medium comprising:  
       (a) from about 60% by weight to about 100% by weight sand wherein the grains of sand have a size ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm and wherein the grains of sand have a grain size substantially matching the grain size of sand at the transplant site;  
       (b) from about 40% by weight to about 0% by weight organic amendment; and  
       (c) an effective amount of fertilizer.  
     
     
       2. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the organic amendment is selected from the group consisting of peat mosses, rice hull compost, milorganite, processed sludge, fibrous plant materials, or organic polymers. 
     
     
       3. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       4. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the root zone medium contains about 80% by weight sand and about 20% by weight organic amendment. 
     
     
       5. The transportable turf according to  claim 4  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       6. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the root zone medium contains about 70% by weight sand and about 30% by weight organic amendment. 
     
     
       7. The transportable turf according to  claim 6  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       8. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the grains of sand have a uniform size ranging from about 0.18 mm to about 0.84 mm. 
     
     
       9. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the fertilizer has a 1:1:1 ratio of nitrogen:phosphorous:potassium. 
     
     
       10. The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the fertilizer has a 0:1:1 ratio of nitrogen:phosphorous:potassium. 
     
     
       11. A method of cultivating, developing and growing turf grass in sod form, the method comprising the steps of 
       a) determining the grain size and distribution of sand at a transplant site;  
       b) blending a soil-less sand based root zone material to form a soil-less blend that has a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of the grain size and distribution at the transplant site;  
       c) laying down a root impermeable barrier;  
       d) depositing a layer of said soil-less blend sufficient for production of turf grass on top of said root impermeable barrier;  
       e) introducing seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs of a turf grass into the soil-less sand based root zone medium;  
       f) propagating said seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs into a harvestable mat of combined turf grass sod and root zone medium characterized by having a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of sand at said transplant site; g) wherein said root zone medium comprises:  
       (i) from about 60% by weight to about 100% by weight sand;  
       (ii) from about 40% by weight to about 0% by weight organic amendment; and  
       (iii) an effective amount of fertilizer.  
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein said organic amendments are selected from the group consisting of peats, processed sludge, rice hulls, fibrous plant materials, or organic polymers. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11  wherein the root zone medium contains about 80% by weight sand and about 20% by weight organic amendment. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       16. The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 11  wherein the root zone medium contains about 70% by weight sand and about 30% by weight organic amendment. 
     
     
       17. The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 16  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss. 
     
     
       18. The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 11  wherein the sand grains have a uniform size ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11  further comprising blending grass seed with the soil-less sand based root zone medium prior to deposition on the root impermeable layer. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11  wherein the root impermeable layer is a synthetic material. 
     
     
       21. The root impermeable layer of  claim 20  wherein the synthetic material is polyethylene. 
     
     
       22. A sod mat produced by the method of  claim 11  comprising a mat of turf grass and a layer of soil-less sand based root zone medium. 
     
     
       23. A sod mat according to  claim 22  wherein the grass is a Bermuda grass. 
     
     
       24. A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is a Zoysia grass. 
     
     
       25. A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is a bent grass. 
     
     
       26. A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is selected from the group consisting of Fescues, Rye or Buffalo grass.